Summary
Covid cases are surging across the U.S. post-holidays, with rising test positivity, hospitalizations, and deaths, while booster uptake remains low.
Only 21.4% of adults and 10.3% of children have received the latest booster, leaving vulnerable groups, including the elderly, at higher risk.
Experts warn of continued dangers from Covid, including long Covid and economic impacts, as the virus has not yet reached an endemic state.
With uncertain federal priorities, researchers stress the importance of monitoring infections, updating vaccines, and using preventive measures to mitigate future waves.
Genuine question (not an anti vaxxer): If the vaccine doesn’t stop you from getting the virus (my understanding is that it makes the symptoms less severe but doesn’t prevent the infection), how does it help keep it from spreading?
It both reduces chance of infection and severity of infection, and furthermore reducing the symptoms makes it less transmissible because the congestion symptoms are part of how it moves from person to person (coughing and such). The vaccines aren’t perfect because covid can evolve so quickly but they’re miles better than nothing
Thx!
No, Chance of infection is unchanged. Only environmental factors like masks, hygiene and location stop a virus from entering the body.
Yes, symptoms are reduced.
Yes, recovery time (and therefore time in an infectious state) is reduced.
Boosters arent free anymore, are they?
Mine was covered by my free state insurance, but y’know
Even if they were, getting a significant amount of people to get them every 6-12 months isn’t likely to happen. Even the flu vaccine is only around 50% after decades of campaigns for getting it regularly.
I got a booster in September as I was planning a trip to India, but I will say that thing knocked me on my fucking ass so much. As much as I believe in vaccination, it’s gonna be a hard sell to my brain to go back next year and get it again.
I just got my booster last week and this was the first one where I didnt need the next day in bed. I’ve never had the 'Rona (that I know of).
How is it not endemic yet? Oh wait the pharma companies aren’t done making money off it yet.
Flu is endemic yet millions get a flu shot every year. I’d rather the booster than the brain fog++, thanks.
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I’ve never had a flu shot,
Good for you?
can’t imagine ever needing one,
Sounds like you don’t understand what they are or how they work
the effectiveness is super low too.
That’s wrong.
When will people learn that you don’t only vaccinate for yourself. You vaccinate to lessen spread so people who are too ill or immunocompromised to get vaccinated aren’t completely fucked.
Never.
It is culturally incompatible with the dominant ideology here (US).
You’re fucking up the health of the people around you, not just risking your own. You need your flu shots. If you seriously look into them, you will walk away thinking that they’re a fantastic thing, and you’ll get them.
